India occupies the greater part of South Asia, with the capital, New Delhi, located in the northern part of the country. With a population of 1.408 billion people, India has just become the most populous country in the world. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is the most populated city with 12.5 million people.
Two climatic subtypes are prevalent in India. A tropical monsoon climate, particularly in the south which is prone to high humidity. The other, a tropical climate which brings both wet and dry weather conditions. The southern regions experience their mildest temperatures between January and September; whereas in the northeast, the months from March to August are more bearable.
India is often unseen as a family destination; however, the country is a wonderful place to raise a family. Many foreigners choose to send children to one of the excellent private or international schools present in every major city. Exploration around this great country and experiencing the many breathtaking sights, smells and tastes are also a fantastic family activity.
English is a commonly spoken language, along with Hindi. Most people can understand English, more so in the south. However, in the North, English is less understood.
One of the biggest advantages of moving to India is the cost of living. Expats earning a local currency by working in skilled roles will live very comfortably. It is generally much cheaper than many other countries, making it an attractive choice. In addition, India offers a wide range of job opportunities for those interested in relocating there. There may be a challenge finding suitable housing, as there is a high demand for good quality accommodation. It is recommended you either seek the assistance from your employer or enlist the services of a reputable estate agent.
India’s healthcare system is well-developed and highly desirable. There are advanced technologies in all hospitals, as well as skilled members of staff who provide quality medical services that are reasonably priced. The cultural diversity of the country is amazing. Here you can experience both traditional and modern aspects of the culture, ranging from ancient monuments to vibrant festivals. There are plenty of locations to explore and activities to take part in, making India an ideal destination for those looking for a new lifestyle adventure.
At OSS World Wide Movers, our network of FIDI / FAIM accredited partners cover the whole of India.
Our partners in India are well versed in all aspects of the requirements for importation of personal and household goods.
This guarantees you a seamless, tailor made move to India right through to your new home for your personal effects and vehicles. Don’t forget your much loved pets as well.
Contact the Consulate General of India at 265 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000 or follow this link to the Consulate General of India website: https://www.cgisydney.gov.in/
General visa information and processing information can be found here: https://services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/ind
General passport information can be found here: https://services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/ind/apply-passport
Follow this link for immigration information and related services: https://www.mha.gov.in/MHA1/TourVisa.html
A guide to citizenship: https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/
It is recommended that you do not ship items to India which have been “owner packed” as they will attract stringent inspection by Customs on arrival. It is advisable to have your goods packed by your moving company to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.
Household goods can be imported into India under Transfer of Residence or As Unaccompanied baggage. Under transfer of residence (TR) goods can be imported at a concessional duty of 15% whereas under unaccompanied baggage the duty is 38.5%.
Depending on minimum the time period stayed abroad by the passenger and fulfilment of conditions, various articles are allowed free of duty up to a specified limit.
Import of pets (dogs or cats) up to two numbers per passenger is allowed as baggage, only to persons transferring their residence to India after two year of continuous stay abroad subject to production of required health certificate from country of origin and examination of the said pets by the animal quarantine officer without an import license issued by DGFT. Import of pets is allowed only at airports having animal quarantine facility, viz. at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Passengers can also re-import the pets which were being taken away with them as export with prior certification from the Animal Quarantine officer. For details please refer http://dgftcom.nic.in/exim/2000/petguidelines.pdf.
Moving a boat to India has similar requirements to moving a car to India when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in India will have a special interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life.
While it is possible to moving your motor vehicles and motor bikes into India, it is important to be aware of the complexities and potential costs involved. Motor cars can be imported by paying customs duty @ 208% of the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value for both used and new cars. Motor Bikes can be imported by paying customs duty @ 85% of the CIF value for both used and new bikes. However, other rules & regulations apply, so it is advisable to seek guidance from moving experts at OSS World Wide Movers before planning any shipment to India. Moving these vehicles may involve navigating through various requirements, and the import duty rates can be relatively high.
If you are a Foreign national – you can import foodstuff in the main household goods shipment duty free up to a limit of Rs. 50,000/= (Approx USD 650/=). Besides Foreign nationals who are resident in India can import foodstuff worth Rs. 1,00,000 Per Annum (Approx USD 1300). However, please note that Wine, spirits, beverages, etc. are not allowed duty free under this facility. It is also important that payment for the foodstuff must be made out of funds of the foreign national available outside India.
You can import wine, Alcohol & spirits, however, please note that the import duties on such items are very high – Approximately – 244%. We would also like you to note that it is not advisable to import liquor into India as most international brands of liquor are available in India at reasonable prices. However, If you must ship Wine or Liquor, please pack them separately and clearly mark them so it is easily identifiable. If you do not disclose them – it could lead to unnecessary problems with customs if found during physical examination.
OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs.
Although your shipment to India will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product
Clearance of goods in India is complicated, time consuming and varies a lot depending upon the port, the no. of customs officers present, space available at the port, number of shipments at port etc. Hence an exact timeline cannot be given. However, below is the average time taken for the clearance.
When moving your household goods to India by sea freight, this will typically take 10-12 weeks for an FCL service. For services such as LCL and shared container services (i.e. groupage), these will take longer to reach your destination as your goods will need to be consolidated with other consignments heading to the same destination. Please discuss these options & shipping times with your removal consultant, as shipping times will vary greatly for each destination when using this type of service over an FCL service.
Owner’s personal presence is generally a must as per government regulations. It is also advisable because you can see for yourself the condition in which the goods arrived and how the customs are examining your goods. In cases, if owner cannot be present due to exceptional circumstances like health condition / age / physically challenged / COVID restrictions etc. A power of attorney can be executed in favour of a friend, relative or us, provided completed customs forms should be duly signed and attested.
When looking to relocate to India you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. Mainly those things you might expect – antiques, drugs, weapons, ammunition, explosives, ivory, animal skins, sandalwood, pornography etc. The following PDF has an extensive list of prohibited and restricted items when moving to India: Moving to India – FIDI Guide
It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.
In China, there are three plug types, types A, C and I. Plug type A is the plug that has two flat parallel pins, plug type C is the plug that has two round pins and plug type I is the plug that has three flat pins in a triangular pattern. China operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz (Hong Kong is 200V; Taiwan is 110V).
Chinese power plugs and power sockets are similar to those in Australia. A Chinese power plug may fit loosely in an Australian socket, but thick pins of an Australian plug may not fit easily in a Chinese power socket. In China, the sockets are installed upside-down compared to Australian ones. A standard socket on a wall in China has two flat pins on the upper part and earthed three flat pins on the lower part.
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